Aberdeen Ethics Commission Finds Mayor Bennett in Violation of City Code; “Series of Imprudent Actions” Stemmed from Trip to Georgia with Ripken Baseball

The City of Aberdeen Ethics Commission issued a Decision today, ruling that Mayor Michael Bennett, President of the Maryland Municipal League, violated multiple sections of the Aberdeen City Code.

The Decision follows an official Complaint filed with the City of Aberdeen Ethics Commission by Patrick McGrady. McGrady’s complaint addressed multiple laws in Aberdeen that were violated, and the Ethics Commission ruling concurred on all points except one.

McGrady said, “We must hold all of our elected officials to high standards of integrity. It is very unfortunate that Mayor Bennett did not follow the law, and for the sake of Aberdeen’s future, I hope that his future behavior will be more ethical.”

Inside the Decision, the Ethics Commission and the City Attorney established that Mayor Bennett was representing the City of Aberdeen in his trip to Augusta, where he lobbied in support of the Ripken Baseball group, a business that has ongoing negotiations with the City. The Ripken Group is pursuing a deal in Augusta, in which the City of Augusta would help fund a new Stadium construction project.

McGrady contends that “even more disappointing than the legal violations that took place is the fact that Mayor Bennett, during his Ripken-paid trip to Augusta, told the people of Augusta that the Ripken Stadium has been a good deal for the City. The truth is that Aberdeen taxpayers lose hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, and we need to get out from under that debt.”

“The Aberdeen City Election is being held on Tuesday, November 8. The people of Aberdeen need to consider this new evidence when deciding who to trust as the Mayor for four years.”

Patrick McGrady is a candidate for Mayor in the Aberdeen Election to be held on Tuesday, November 8th at the Aberdeen Senior Center. The McGrady Mayoral Campaign has focused on restoring the honesty to government in Aberdeen, reducing taxes, and reducing water bills.

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Patrick McGrady you ought to run on your own ideas, rather than trash another candidate and point out everything they have done wrong. I’m guessing you haven’t done that because you have no experience. Quit sounding like a constant cry baby, and say something positive.

Travis, since when does exposing the truth qualify as “crying”? And just what HAS Bennett and his rubber stamp council accomplished during the past 2 years? Well not much, except to change the charter to 4 year terms (there goes what little accoutablity HAD been available to the uninformed voters of Aberdeen), and they adopted (and here’s the ironic part) a “CODE OF ETHICS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS”!!!! What a f*&king joke! This drooling, stammering plunker is an embarASSment to the City of Aberdeen. But guess what, those idiots will re-elect him….

How can you talk about ethics, when McGrady put his campaign signs out with no authority line, and after recieving a letter about it, still hasn’t corrected this issue. This is a $1000.00 per day fine, plus is illegal. He also lied about being a lacrosse coach. He hasn’t been a lacrosse coach at the Aberdeen High School for several years. PLEASE, DON”T PUT SHADY MCGRADY AND ETHICS IN THE SAME SENTENCE !!!!!!!!!!!!

Because its Aberdeen and they are all unethical, self absorbed, self centered and small minded. The only hope is that the State’s Attorney General will take up this case and FINALLY something positive will happen in Aberdeen!

McGrady handled the situation correctly by allowing the ethics commission to prove his case. He is not whining, you sound childish and immature.
The new ideas that McGrady is running on will ensure folks w/n Aberdeen will be treated respectfully by the city office employees. Questions and answers from and to the staff w/n the city offices will be answered clearly and politely.
He has stated that he will work to help small businesses grow w/n Aberdeen. Maybe even be able to cut a lot of the ‘red tape’. God bless you, Mr. McGrady!

This is the most visible that Bennett has been since he became mayor of Aberdeen. I remember him saying something to the effect of that he wasn’t going to be a very vocal or accessible mayor. Apparently the majority of the Aberdeen voters liked that because he won a second term. It will be interesting to see if he wins again next Tuesday. My guess is probably yes, despite the Ripken Stadium fiasco. Maybe the town does need some new blood, and especially on the council.

Here is a thought: Has anyone read the “final remarks” of the Ethic’s Commission’s report? “Mayor Bennett did not willfully violate the Aberdeen Code of Ethic’s.” Willfully, meaning intend or intent to!

While I don’t condone Mayor Bennett’s violations, and I think it is wrong to violate established rules, the substance of what has done amounts to not giving written notice in a timely manner and advocating for a business while serving in an official capacity. In the grand scope of things it doesn’t really seem to be that big a deal. He has been reprimanded and censured. The commission says in its report that none of the violations were intentional. I wonder if Mr. McGrady has considered how his business interests in Aberdeen might represent a clear conflict of interest and potential ethics violation? Those who live in glass house should be wary of throwing stones…

Mr Burbey: You are right to note that those who judge will themselves be judged by the same standards they hold others to. But I think this ethics complaint has nothing to do with “throwing rocks”; it has everything to do with exposing things that are wrong. It’s about holding our very own elected leaders accountable and making sure they feel the heat if they act contrary to the law or don’t fulfill their promises.

You say that in the grand scheme of things, Bennett’s trip to Augusta isn’t so terrible. Maybe you don’t think so, but at what point DO these things become a “big deal?” If it’s wrong, it’s wrong, and the Mayor’s constituents should feel that it’s their resposibility to call those things out.

Maybe the timing was opportune for McGrady, but it’s not like Bennett took the trip a year ago and McGrady was just waiting to expose it. The trip happened a few weeks ago. Maybe Bennett isn’t guilty of intentionally lobbying for Ripken Group; maybe he traveled with the most wonderful, friendly, and honest intentions. But it was not right. He violated the code of ethics. It’s a shame, but that’s what happened.

McGrady SAYS he wants people to hold him accountable for his actions and decisions regarding Aberdeen. So, if he’s elected, we will all be called to that task. I’m sure it’s not always fun, but it’s important.

I think it’s unreasonable to expect candidates at any level, whether hyper-local or national, to have ZERO investment in their districts. Investment is what builds community; we should all have a stake in our hometowns. People who aren’t invested, whether by businesses or properties or relationships, are not likely to care very much for the people of their communities.

Sometimes, as we know, elected officials’ interests supercede the best interests of the people they serve. Then there is corruption, and special interest negotiations, and concealment. And that is why we must hold those leaders accountable.

I know you’re not going to vote for McGrady. But I would encourage you to think about this: here’s a guy (albeit young) who is INVITING folks to hold him to the task. He is inviting open and honest and fully-accountable city government. McGrady is not perfect, but he doesn’t lie about working with his family or being young. He doesn’t cover up the fact that he and his family own rental property and other houses and churches in Aberdeen. He doesn’t pretend to have all kinds of experience that he doesn’t have. But he answers people’s questions directly and thoughtfully, and he offers his ideas without fearing that they may be too unpopular for people to stomach.

@Ryan Burbrey – Owning a home, commercial real property or a company requires no disclosure unless the business-owner has commercial dealings with the municipality. It does not require a political candidate to foresee and disclose future unknown conflicts of interest.

Kind of like speeding because you are not paying attention to the speedometer as opposed to speeding because you are pushing the pedal to the metal trying to get from point A to point B faster. The fine on the ticket is the same, the point on your drivers license is the same, your insurance increase is the same, and your driving record and the other guys both say speeding. It’s up to the voters to decide that if it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and quacks like a duck…….

Actually often the fine is not the same nor the points. Frequently, given a clean record, speeding tickets are dropped. Likewise, given Mayor Bennett’s life of service to his country as an Vietnam Vet, career as a sate trooper and his past service as mayor, I personally think a slap on the wrist is warranted. I am a voter in Aberdeen and I will vote for Mayor Bennett. Perhaps he has made errors in judgement, but he will not make the giant mistake of trying to shrink our city and layoff or fire city workers in a time of economic turmoil and distress. What’s more, he want try to sell off our water and shackle our citizens to corporate profiteers.

Still voting for Benett. McGrady is a spoiled little brat that has no expereince but only what his daddy tells what to do. McGrady should go hang out with his fan club in Georgia because those are the only people that think he candle his job.

Bennett never served in Vietnam. And his service in the State Police will always be tarnished since he stole the Sergeant’s exam and cheated his way to a promotion. The only reason he was able to keep his job is because he told on everyone he gave a copy of the exam to.

Bennett knew exactly what he was doing when he went to Agusta and lied about the financial impact of the stadium on Aberdeen’s budget. But of course Aberdeen likes cheaters and liers so stay classy Aberdeen and re-elect Art Helton, I mean Mike Bennett. You will forever be the joke of Harford County!

Experience doesn’t come in to question after this country elected an inexperienced leader. Ethics can come into question but let whoever doesn’t have a skeleton in their closet cast the first stone. Typical Aberdeen election, throw dirt, see what sticks, and only 1/4 of the voters take time to vote. The kids are grown and we’re down sizing, I’m selling my house and moving, I’m sick of the MD tax and spend ideology, and frankly I really don’t want to deal with the BRAC fallout, yes MD dropped the ball as did Aberdeen. Someone who thinks outside of the box and isn’t in debt to party movers and shakers may be a breath of fresh air.